A church family tries to process the good and the evil

Updated 3:16 pm, Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

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Sutherland Springs residents Rod and Judy Green bring flowers and flags to place along a row of crosses to mourn the victims of Sunday's shooting tragedy at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News) less

Sutherland Springs residents Rod and Judy Green bring flowers and flags to place along a row of crosses to mourn the victims of Sunday's shooting tragedy at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on ... more

Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

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Just five days before one of the most deadly shootings in Texas history, the shooter was among dozens that attended the annual fall festival at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. (Facebook photo)

Just five days before one of the most deadly shootings in Texas history, the shooter was among dozens that attended the annual fall festival at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. (Facebook photo)

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The First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs hosted a fall festival on Oct. 31, an event the alleged shooter was seen at by local residents. (Facebook photo)

The First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs hosted a fall festival on Oct. 31, an event the alleged shooter was seen at by local residents. (Facebook photo)

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This undated photo provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows Devin Kelley, the suspect in the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. A short time after the shooting, Kelley was found dead in his vehicle. (Texas Department of Public Safety via AP)

This undated photo provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows Devin Kelley, the suspect in the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. A short

Rod and Judy Green, residents of Sutherland Springs and members of First Baptist Church, visited and placed flowers and flags at the 26 crosses, Texas, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017.

Rod and Judy Green, residents of Sutherland Springs and members of First Baptist Church, visited and placed flowers and flags at the 26 crosses, Texas, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017.

Photo: Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

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Rod and Judy Green, residents of Sutherland Springs and members of First Baptist Church, visited and placed flowers and flags at the 26 crosses, Texas, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017.

Rod and Judy Green, residents of Sutherland Springs and members of First Baptist Church, visited and placed flowers and flags at the 26 crosses, Texas, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017.

Photo: Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

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Sutherland Springs residents Rod and Judy Green stand over a row of crosses after placing flowers and flags to mourn the victims of Sunday's shooting tragedy at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News) less

Sutherland Springs residents Rod and Judy Green stand over a row of crosses after placing flowers and flags to mourn the victims of Sunday's shooting tragedy at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas ... more

Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

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Sutherland Springs residents Judy Green and her husband, Rod, lay flowers and flags at a row of crosses to mourn the victims of Sunday's shooting tragedy at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News) less

Sutherland Springs residents Judy Green and her husband, Rod, lay flowers and flags at a row of crosses to mourn the victims of Sunday's shooting tragedy at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on ... more

Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

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Victims' deaths in the Sutherland Springs church shooting have left the town — and the world outside it — reeling. Here are numerous tributes left on GoFundMe pages and around social media to remember those lost in Texas' deadliest mass shooting.

Victims' deaths in the Sutherland Springs church shooting have left the town — and the world outside it — reeling. Here are numerous tributes left on GoFundMe pages and around social media to remember those

Joann Ward attended the Nov. 5 Sunday service at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs with her four children: Rhianna, Emily, Brooke and Ryland. Emily Garcia and Brooke Ward died with their mother. Rhianna told friends, who then posted on Facebook with permission from the family, that Joann pushed her eldest down when the shooting began.

"I didn't get shot because I was hiding, and momma covered Emily, Ryland and Brooke," Rhianna told Family friends. "Ryland remains at University Hospital in San Antonio and has a very long road back to full recovery," according to the post.

Friends described the mother of four as a person who showed "dear, special, unique" love and was like a "big sister" within the Sutherland Springs community.

Crystal Holcombe, wife of injured John Holcombe, was killed with three of her five children from an earlier marriage: Emily, Megan and Greg. Her unborn child also did not survive. Crystal was a "loving mother and wonderful-hearted woman," her first father-in-law John Hill said.

Bryan Holcombe, who filled in for Pastor Frank Pomeroy, died with his wife Karla. They were described as "happy people who never had a negative thing to say" by their friend, Jim Miller.

Their son Marc Daniel Holcombe died with the his year-old daughter, Noah, the youngest victim.

Robert Corrigan was a 29-year Air Force Veteran and he worked at WellMed at The Oaks in San Antonio before he died. He and Shani were Floresville residents, who were high school sweethearts from northern Michigan, according to the Associated Press. Mourning friends who donated to the family via GoFundMe said the two were "wonderful people who had hearts of gold." "Chief Corrigan was such a great mentor and person," another said. "He and his wife mad this a better world."

The couple had recently retired to La Vernia from Pennsylvania and were trying out area churches. Sunday was their first visit to First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. Karen had just finished an assignment at Andrew's Air Force Base in Maryland. Scott, who retired from the Air Force, was working as a civilian contractor and mechanic at Lackland Air Force Base, according to the Associated Press.

Annabelle is the daughter of Pastor Frank Pomeroy and Sherri Pomeroy. Both of her parents were out of town when she died.

Annabelle Renee Pomeroy (14)

Annabelle is the daughter of Pastor Frank Pomeroy and Sherri Pomeroy. Both of her parents were out of town when she died.

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Peggy Lynn Warden

Warden stepped in front of her grandson, Zachary Poston, as a shield. Her family is calling her their "hero" in an online fundraising campaign. One of Warden's family members wrote on Facebook that she was "blessed to have the kindest person (she) has ever know as (her) sister."

John Holcombe was wounded in the shooting, and his wife, Crystal Holcombe, who was pregnant, was killed, as were their children Emily Hill (front left), Megan Hill (front middle) and Greg Hill (right). Son Phillip (middle) was not in church, and daughter Evelyn (front right) was wounded. (Courtesy photo) less

John Holcombe was wounded in the shooting, and his wife, Crystal Holcombe, who was pregnant, was killed, as were their children Emily Hill (front left), Megan Hill (front middle) and Greg Hill (right). Son ... more

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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Noah Holcombe and her father Marc Daniel "Danny" Holcombe died in the Nov. 5 attack. She was 18-months old.

Noah Holcombe and her father Marc Daniel "Danny" Holcombe died in the Nov. 5 attack. She was 18-months old.

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Marc Daniel "Danny" Holcombe was one of the eight Holcombe family members killed in the shooting.

Marc Daniel "Danny" Holcombe was one of the eight Holcombe family members killed in the shooting.

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Crystal Holcombe and three of her children died in the Nov. 5 shooting. Crystal was 8-months pregnant.

Crystal Holcombe and three of her children died in the Nov. 5 shooting. Crystal was 8-months pregnant.

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John Bryan Holcombe

Bryan (John Bryan Holcombe and his wife Karla Holcombe) was the guest pastor of the church and had been filling in for Pastor Frank Pomeroy the day of the shooting. He and his wife Karla had been married for more than two decades.

There are 26 white crosses on a grassy corner blocks from the First Baptist Church, the church where Rod and Judy Green said their marriage vows in 2006.

On Tuesday evening, the couple attempted to reckon their memories with a new reality: the crosses represented the 26 friends, their church family, killed Sunday by Devin P. Kelley, who carried a rifle and a history of violence, the son-in-law of a member of the congregation.

“My heart was pouring this morning,” said Judy Green of her pain.

They had just added flowers to the multitudes strewn underneath the crosses.

Ever since they heard the news, the world had felt like it was moving in “slow motion,” Green said. She shivered and huddled closer to her husband, both cold from the arriving norther and shaken by the shooting that terrorized her community. Green has lived in the area since she was 10.

“They’re just family. We don’t think any other way about each other,” Rod Green said.

Judy Green rubbed her husband’s hand, which rested on her shoulder.

“This was so devastating. It’s overwhelming,” she said.

Just as many others had in Sutherland Springs, they saw the gunman at the church’s fall festival on Halloween night. Judy Green worked at a table that gave kids a toy in exchange for candy. Now, she can’t get him out of her head.

“The shooter was very evil. And I cannot forget his face, and I want to,” she said.

Just the Tuesday before, the two had seen Devin Kelley, the gunman, at the church’s Fall Fest. He was dressed all in black, “walking around like a zombie,” Rod Green said.

They had known there was something off about him. Green considered Kelley evil and demented — “he thought he was a hot-shot, a badass, always armed. He talked tough.” So when he saw Kelley outside the hay bale ride he was operating, he wondered, nervously, if Kelley had a gun.

After the shooting, he helped authorities identify bodies. He’s a Vietnam veteran and was a law-enforcement officer in Montana but has seen “nothing like this,” he said. “I never had to do something like this.”

Green said he feels for Kelley’s family, the Shields, and hopes they don’t take everything too hard.

The couple has been volunteering at the church’s food bank every Friday for years. On Wednesday they headed to San Antonio to pick up food. They’ve decided that this week won’t be any different.

“God does not let me live for nothing,” Rod Green said. “We will make something good out of this.”